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Canada and international indigenous affairs

On May 10, 2016, Canada became a full supporter, without qualification, of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Aboriginal people in Canada are taking an increasingly active role on the world stage, in fields such as human rights, governance, respect of cultural and linguistic diversity, environmental protection, and international co-operation. Actively innovating and developing best practices in a number of fields, Aboriginal people in Canada share their expertise with indigenous groups, states and international organizations around the world. The Government of Canada supports these endeavours and accomplishments.

Indigenous Dimension of Foreign Policy

There are more than 370 million Indigenous people in more than 70 countries around the world. They have distinct cultural, linguistic, and social traditions and are often confronted by unique challenges. In Canada, evolutions in policy and law have led to the development of ways to address some of the issues facing Aboriginal peoples and communities. This experience gives Canada a unique perspective on issues of importance to Indigenous peoples. The value of sharing practices, programs, experiences and expertise with others is reflected in the inclusion of international indigenous affairs in Canada's foreign policy.

This site is intended to bring you information about current initiatives with respect to international indigenous affairs, and provide information about important and interesting trends in this area.